Garage Door Sensor Blinking Red: What It Means?

Garage doors sensors are specifically designed to avoid accidents. The blinking of the red lights on your garage door indicates that your security sensors are not properly aligned or there is a fault in the garage doors; this could be a clear sign that something is obstructing the safety beam of the security systems. But It can also be a false alarm. 

Garage Door Sensor Blinking Red

Garage Door Sensor Blinking Red: What Are the Reasons?

Garage sensors are the safety sensors that are applied to the garage doors, which help to prevent accidents that could happen due to garage door malfunctioning. There could be many reasons for accidents. Some of them are as follows:

Garage Door Sensor Blinking Red: What Are the Reasons?

💁The transmitter batteries could be dead

If the batteries of your transmitter are dead, you will no longer be able to send the signals From your remote to open or close the garage doors.

💁Damage or dirty photo eyes 

Photo eyes produce an invisible beam that detects the obstruction when present; if your photo eyes are not clean or are damaged; then, you might be prone to severe accidents.

💁Damaged transmitters 

If you have damaged transmitters, then you might not be able to access the garage doors remotely.

💁Damaged springs 

The damaging of the springs could be very dangerous as the door when in use, could freely suspended, leading to fatal accidents.

Almost all the garage doors are remotely operated so that you have the convenience to open the garage while you are still in your car; some garage doors are traditional also and can be operated manually.

The working of the garage doors is simple; it starts with the infrared radio signals, which trigger the electric motor as soon as you press the button on your remote; the electric motor then activates a track-and-pulley system, which is responsible for opening or closing of your garage doors.


What Does Garage Door Sensor Blinking Red Means?

An infrared beam of light is used in the garage doors, which activates the electric motor by pressing the button on the remote, and then the electric motors enable a track-and-pulley system that facilitates in opening and closing of the garage doors.

There is a pair of LEDs that are attached to the garage doors; when the LED is green, this indicates that the doors are working. If the garage door sensor blinking red, then there is an issue with the sensors; common issues that cause the red light to blink on the garage doors are as follows:

💁Obstruction

Something could be blocking the security systems of the garage doors. This is one of the most common reasons for the blinking of red lights on your garage door.

💁Dirty or greased sensors

If your sensors are greasy or soiled, then the red lights would start blinking as it acts as an obstruction for the sensors to open or close the garage door. Clean your garage doors sensors if this is the case.

💁Damaged sensors

It is a high possibility that your sensors may be damaged if they are blinking red without any significant reasons; check if the sensors are damaged and try to get them repaired as soon as possible.

💁Improper Alignment

Your garage door sensor’s LEDs would flash if the alignment of the sensors is not proper; the alignment of the sensors is important as there is a beam of light which is a part of the security system of the garage doors, which detects if there is any obstruction or not.


How to Fix a Garage Door Sensor that is Blinking Red?

The red blinking of the garage door sensor LEDs occurs when something is blocking the sensors, or there is any obstruction between the sensors that are not letting the beam pass.

How to Fix a Garage Door Sensor that is Blinking Red?
How to Fix a Garage Door Sensor that is Blinking Red?

Here is a step by step troubleshooting guide on how to fix the red blinking of the garage door sensor:

  • Step 1 – Check if there is any obstruction present between the sensors. If present, then tries to remove it.
  • Step 2 – Check the alignment of the sensors and verify if the alignment is in proper order or not. If the alignment is not in proper order, then try to align the sensors properly.
  • Step 3 – Check for wire damages. This could be one of the prime reasons for the blinking of the red light of your garage sensors.
  • Step 4 – Clan the sensors properly as this might be the reason for the red light blinking of the garage sensors. Sometimes, you only require a clean cloth to fix your garage doors.
  • Step 5 –Try inspecting the bracket or tightening the screws on the blinking sensors. Loose screws can also cause ht red light to blink on the garage sensors.
  • Step 6 – Check for damaged wires; this could lead to severe accidents as the damaged wires could be very harmful and cause malfunctioning of the garage doors.

If you have followed all the above-given steps and you are still left with the red blinking lights, then try resetting the garage door lights and sensors.

If You Are Facing Other Problems Regarding Garage Doors: How Do You Diagnose A Garage Door Problem? | Fix Garage Door that Has Shifted to One Side | How to Quiet a Garage Door Opener


How to Test Garage Door Sensors?

Malfunctioned garage doors can lead to severe accidents and can cause various health hazards. It is always a good option to check the garage doors as soon as you suspect sone problem with it.

Here are some of the methods to test garage door sensors:

💁Cardboard or block method

You can test your garage doors by using a cardboard piece or a wooden block; you can use the block by keeping it below the garage doors and then hit the button to close the garage door if the garage door is not closing, as there is an obstruction present between the sensors that is blocking the beam to pass, then it is a clear sign that your garage door sensors are working perfectly fine.

💁Poor wire connections

Inspect the wires and check if there is any fault with them or are they damaged. There can be many cases in which your wires may be completely damaged. If you suspect the damaged wires, then try to repair them as soon as possible because the malfunctioning of the doors could be disastrous.


Indicators of a Faulty Garage?

Faulty or defective garage doors could lead to severe accidents and is highly risky to operate. There could be a number of reasons that can cause your garage door to malfunction; there are some clear indicators that clearly show signs of faulty garage doors.

Indicators of a Faulty Garage?
Indicators of a Faulty Garage?

Here are some of the indicators you should observe if you suspect any fault in your garage doors:

💁Misaligned sensor paths

An easy way to determine the misalignment of your garage doors is to check the LEDs present on the garage doors. If the LEDs are red, then it clearly states that the alignment of the sensors is not proper.

💁Dirty sensor eyes/paths

Photo eyes produce an invisible beam that is responsible for detecting any obstruction, if any. If the photo eyes are dirty, then the sensor LEDs would turn red and indicate that there is some problem with the garage doors.

💁Improper closing or opening of doors

After pressing the button to open or close the garage doors, if the garage doors do not respond, then this could be a clear sign of damaged garage doors; sometimes, it will be partially functional, and this also falls under the category of the damaged Garage doors.

It is difficult to determine the reason behind this problem as this is a technical problem, so the best you can do is to get in touch with an expert who can repair your garage doors.

💁Slow response 

If there is a delay in working of the garage doors after pressing the button on the remote to close or open the doors, then this could be a clear sign or indication of damaged garage doors, these slow and unexpected responses can be very irritating, especially when you are in a hurry.

If you want to avoid sensor related problem and change the door altogether and give your garage a new look, you may find this article useful: How to Replace Garage Door With French Doors?


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I reset my garage door sensors?

👍 Step 1 – Push the button on the remote.
👍 Step 2 – Now press the button which is located on the motor.
👍 Step 3 – Hold both buttons until the light on the garage door flashes; this indicates that your garage doors have now reset.

2. How long do garage door sensors last?

The typical battery life of a garage door is the sensor is about three to five years; the garage door sensors report a low battery.

3. Can I bypass the Garage door sensors?

If you have faulty garage doors sensors, then you can bypass them by setting the automatic garage doors to manual mode to operate the garage doors manually.

Summary:

You should regularly check up on the functioning of your garage door sensors to avoid hazardous situations and accidents. If you have faulty garage doors or if the garage door sensor blinking red always, then look for a replacement or repair as soon as you suspect something wrong with the garage doors.